Lakhimpur: Five persons, including three `kanwarias`, were on Monday killed and over two dozen injured when a milk tanker rammed into a tractor-trolley in Nakaha area.

The accident took place near a petrol pump on Pilibhit-Basti Highway when scores of `kanwarias` (devotees of Lord Shiva) were on their way back to Chaklakhipur in a tractor-trolley after offering `Jalabhishek` at Shiv Temple in Gola, Deputy Superintendent of Police Avnishwar Chandra Srivastava told PTI.

A speeding tanker coming from the opposite direction rammed into the tractor-trolley killing the driver and cleaner of the tanker and a kanwaria on the spot while two other kanwarias succumbed to injuries on way to hospital.

"Over two dozen kanwarias were injured in the accident. Six critically injured have been rushed to Lucknow while nearly 20 others are under treatment at the district hospital," Srivastava said.

Local people and police officials from Nakaha, Bhadfar and Lakhimpur police stations rushed to the spot and carried the injured to the district hospital.